1989 Pontiac Firebird TransAm 5.0

Summary:

Best value for my money

Faults:

Rear axle after jumping a curb!

Heater switch went

Hatch pull down motor.

General Comments:

Greatest car I ever had for reliability even though Consumer Reports claimed it was poor. Get 25 mpg on the open road on cruise control. In winter put on real snow tires and only missed one day from work when 4 wheel drives couldn't move. Also drive all year round with 100 lbs. of iron weights in the wheel well, no spinning wheels here!Even at this mileage rides like new.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 5th August, 2002

1989 Pontiac Firebird Coupe 2.8 V6 Multi-Port

Summary:

318,000 miles and still going strong!

Faults:

Replaced alternator 5 times.

Security system makes me wait three minutes often due to worn out computer chip in key.

Headlights did not used to go down (we always rolled them down to make the car look good)

Driver's seat shredded from mileage.

Synchronizer-grinds when goes into 4th (my fault)

Shocks for hood and trunk have been replaced.

Radiator cracked and the car ran hot several times.

Stabilizer bar wore out and squeaked when you pushed the car side to side.

General Comments:

This is technically not my car, however, I would love to call it mine.

My husband bought the car in 1999 with the clutch going out for $2500 US dollars. He put a clutch in it and the car will not stop running.

The fact that the headlights will not go down seems to be a problem where I live. I have found the solution. Replace the headlight switch on the interior dash of the car. We heard every remedy in the book until that switch broke and had to be replaced.

When the floating gas needle gets to "E", you still have 5 gallons of gas left, don't panic.

The carpet and seats on the interior of the car are in dire need of repair.

The motor and transmission in the car are (as far as I know) original and stock.

I am a girl and even I can race this car and beat a Mustang any day of the week.

We put Flowmaster exhaust on it, and air shocks in the back to offset the body of the car from the bigger tires.

All in all, the car has over 318,000 miles on it and really only needs cosmetic repairs (seats, carpet, headliner, paint).

Not long after my husband got the car, someone offer him six thousand dollars for it and he turned them down. I would still say the same today.

I absolutely love everything about this car.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 5th June, 2002

17th Sep 2003, 18:33

You beat mustang"s huh?yeah right.

24th May 2004, 00:20

I have a an 85 TA with 253000 miles, runs great! It's also a stick shift. The car has been from FL to CA twice in the last 3 years. The engine has never been opened. One clutch has beeb installed. The mustang you outran was probably a 6cyl, but no mustang feels as safe at high speed as a TA, it's just lower and wider and has a lower center of gravity.

Geo.

1989 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am 5.7L 350 TPI

Summary:

Best bang for the buck!

Faults:

I only obtained the car at 162,000 miles so I don't know what previously went wrong with it, but the only trouble I have had is the header gasket needs to be replaced. Oh yeah, my transmission finally went. 162,000 beat on miles and the transmission finally went.

The automatic trunk won't close anymore, but it is still latched shut securely. Needless to say, this kind of stuff is expected from a car with this many miles on it.

General Comments:

FAST. Yes, it has some work done to it. The cowl hood, SLP headers and exhaust are just to name a few. I cannot believe a car with this many miles on it can beat a newer Porsche 911 and a plethora of other cars. The paint is still glossy and it handles like it is on rails! There really is nothing bad to say about the car other than that they are not going to be making it anymore soon.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 28th February, 2002